And the Mountains Echoed

Khaled Hosseini, the number-one New York Times best-selling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations.

I would recommend to a friend with the suggestion to take notes while listening or reading. I think there are too many characters and different story lines to keep track of. I have enjoyed the previous two books by this author, but this book was too confusing.

Would you ever listen to anything by Khaled Hosseini again?

Yes

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Pronunciation of the names of the characters.

Could you see And the Mountains Echoed being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

The Affair: A Jack Reacher Novel

Everything starts somewhere. For elite military cop Jack Reacher, that somewhere was Carter Crossing, Mississippi, way back in 1997. A young woman is dead, and solid evidence points to a soldier at a nearby military base. But that soldier has powerful friends in Washington. Reacher is ordered undercover - to find out everything he can, to control the local police, and then to vanish. Reacher is a good soldier. But when he gets to Carter Crossing, he finds layers no one saw coming, and the investigation spins out of control. Local sheriff Elizabeth Deveraux has a thirst for justice - and an appetite for secrets.

I love the stories about Jack Reacher! What a man! This book not only explains how and why he left the Army, but there's also a mystery that only Reacher can solve. I wish I had his lifestyle. I'd love to roam from city to city with no luggage, clothes, or financial responsibilities. When my chothes got dirty, I'd just buy another set. Of course, he attracts trouble like no one else, but that's because he's who he is. If this is your first introduction to Jack Reacher, you'll still enjoy the book, but I would recommend that you familiarize yourself with the other books in the series.

A Stolen Life: A Memoir

"In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen. For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse. For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation. On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I dont think of myself as a victim. I survived...."

I was fascinated by this author's story because I lived in the same town where she was held captive during that time, so I am familiar with the area. The book isn't an enjoyable book in the traditional way, but I was curious to hear how she managed during such a terrible ordeal. Her courage is amazing. I finished it in one day and couldn't stop listening. Parts of it are hard to listen to, but certainly worthwhile. It's a good lesson to all of us to never give up hope.

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Why we think it’s a great listen:Seabiscuit was a runaway success, and Hillenbrand’s done it again with another true-life account about beating unbelievable odds. On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood. Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared.....

I just can't think of enough adjectives to describe this book. It is so interesting and well....mesmerizing! I can't stop listening. It has also renewed my interest in WW II, although I wasn't born at the time. I found myself holding my breath while listening to the adventures of the soldiers and marveling at their abilities to withstand all of the hardships. It is hard to believe that this isn't non-fiction! I plan on listening to it again just to make sure I didn't miss anything. I would definitely recommend this book!!

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: The Millennium Trilogy, Book 1

Why we think it’s a great listen: How do you one-up a book that’s already a global literary phenomenon? Hire Simon Vance to (flawlessly) interpret the loves, lives, and murders of Sweden’s cold and secret-filled world. A spellbinding amalgam of murder mystery, family saga, love story, and financial intrigue. It's about the disappearance 40 years ago of Harriet Vanger, a young scion of one of the wealthiest families in Sweden.

I started the book, but put it aside at one point because I just couldn't seem to get into it. When other readers told me how good it was, though, I went back to it and persisted through the beginning, and finally started to enjoy it. In fact, I liked it so much that I've downloaded the last two and know I'll like them just as much. So, if the book doesn't "grab" your interest at first, keep listening and you'll be rewarded.

Fever Dream

At the old family manse in Louisiana, Special Agent Pendergast is putting to rest long-ignored possessions reminiscent of his wife Helen's tragic death, only to make a stunning - and dreadful - discovery. Helen had been mauled by an unusually large and vicious lion while they were big game hunting in Africa. But now, Pendergast learns that her rifle-her only protection from the beast-had been deliberately loaded with blanks. Who could have wanted Helen dead...and why?

I've read several Pendergast novels, but this one was the best in my opinion. It was very exciting and moved along very quickly. I had to stop myself from fast-forwarding because I was so anxious to find out what happened!! With all of these novels, you can't let your attention wander, and it's important to pay attention to detail. The ending was priceless, and you can just imagine what's going to happen.

Why we think it’s a great listen: The most celebrated performance in all of Audible’s history, The Help has nearly 2,000 5-star reviews from your fellow listeners. We hear the print book’s not bad, either. In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another.

There aren't enough adjectives to describe this wonderful book. The story is about 3 ordinary women who get together to do something extra-ordinary in their effort to change the world in which they live. I was so enthralled while listening that I couldn't stop. I know I'll listen to it again and recommend it to many.

Under the Dome: A Novel

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when - or if - it will go away.

It's got everything that makes a good book...a villian, a hero, a heroine, romance, suspense, action, joy, sadness, and a cute dog! I could go on and on. It is 34 hours long, but I wish it was even longer. I want to know more about the characters and what's happened to them beyond the book. It's certainly worth your time. In fact, I know I'll listen to it again.

You've Been Warned

Kristin Burns is making her way in New York City. Her photos are being considered at a major Manhattan gallery, she works by day with two wonderful children, and the man of her dreams is almost hers for keeps. But just as everything she's ever wanted is finally within reach, her life changes forever with one murderous nightmare.

I always look forward to reading a James Patterson book, but I think that the books that he writes all by himself are the best, and I have read or listened to all of his books. This one was a definite disappointment. Frankly, I couldn't wait for it to end. The main character is so unlikeable that you really don't care what happens to her. There wasn't much of a story, either. This is 6 hours of dribble that you should avoid. I'm giving it one star, but it really doesn't deserve that.

Dead Right

Twenty years ago Madeline Barker's father disappeared. Despite what everyone else thinks, Madeline's convinced her stepfamily had nothing to do with it. But the recent discovery of his car finally proves he didn't just drive away. Worse, the police find something in the trunk that says there's more to this case than murder.

This is the third book in the Dead Trilogy. First there was Dead Silence and then Dead Giveaway and finally, this one, Dead Right. You should really start with the first one and then read second and third. Each book is unique, but it's easier to keep up with the characters if you start at the beginning. If you like a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance, and a few surprises thrown in, you'll love these books. When I find an author, whose style I like, I'll read every book written by him or her. I was not disappointed with this one. It kept me enthralled until the end. I only wish there was more.

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